Learning about Literature searches at Burlew Medical Library

TGIF!! Decided to drop by Burlew Medical Library to expand my initial orientation and learn more about doing literature searches. I learned so much, my head is swimming!!

1. Did you know that, Burlew Medical Library will assist you in your hunt for nursing or medical information in any way possible? As experienced Medical Librarians, they are trained in the art of expert literature searches. They can even help you define your topic when you haven't clarified exactly what you're looking for. 
2. Librarian mediated searches for SJH/CHOC are free services to all SJH/CHOC staff. So whether you need information for patient care, research, job improvement, continuing education, personal/family health issues or even for SCHOOL, Burlew Medical Library will search the topic for you. They are pretty darn quick and will email a PDF of the search to you. This enables you to access some of the full text on your own.
3. So how do you request a lit search? The preferred manner would be to call the library at 714 771-8291 or 18291 and request a lit search. The advantage of this method is that the library staff have the opportunity to interview you and find out all the parameters of your topic. You can also use the "Request a lit search" online form on the library's website or send Julie Smith an email.  Remember, as brilliant as the librarians are, they are NOT mind readers. The more information you can give them, the better job they can do on your lit search. For clinical research questions, it's always a great idea to use the PICO format for structuring your question.
4. Of course, you can also try to do the lit search yourself. All of the library's research databases are centrally located on the library web site under "Research databases". If an additional id and password is required to use the database, you will be receive this information once you have entered the password protected section of the library web site. Library staff do conduct classes and are happy to  sit down with you and give you a hands on introduction. I only have time for a few general caveats here:  A. if you want to search PubMed, be sure to use the PubMed link on the library website. This special link authenticates you as a SJO or CHOC user so that you can access the full text that has been linked here for your convenience. For CINAHL, go to EBSCO databases and then select CINAHL. Burlew Medical Library has preconfigured CINAHL to encourage you to do an "advanced search" whereby you utilize Subject headings and not just textwords. They have also added in many handy limiters including "Burlew Library Journals", "full text", "research article", "peer reviewed", age group limiters and more.  They have also linked an amazing amount of full text journal articles in the database so often you can go straight from your search to the full text article. Of course, many lit searches really do require the skills of an expert librarian. Did you know there is an "Ask the Librarian" feature at the top of the EBSCO search page? If you're having trouble in the middle of a search, you can click on this and your search strategy will go to Burlew's librarian for review. She will get back to you with suggestions as to how to search your topic more completely and often will also complete the search for you.

St. Joseph Hospital in Orange and Children's Hospital of Orange County are to be commended for offering these incredible library and research services to their staff!!  Well that's enough for now-- next time I'll report to you about some special features, tips and tricks available through CINAHL